Please upgrade your browser

We take your security very seriously. In order to protect you and our systems, we are making changes to all HSBC websites that means some of the oldest web browser versions will no longer be able to access these sites. Generally, the latest versions of a browser (like Edge, Chrome, Safari, etc.) and an operating system family (like Microsoft Windows, MacOS) have the most up-to-date security features.

If you are seeing this message, we have detected that you are using an older, unsupported browser.

See how to update your browser

How to build a fixed income portfolio?

Fixed income portfolio is a combination of debt investments that add value to the individual’s goal
07 November 2022

    While investors are somewhat adept at equity investing given their fascination for stocks, they usually need some hand holding when it comes to building a fixed income portfolio.

    Even when individuals talk of fixed income, they usually have traditional investments like fixed deposits (FDs) and post-office schemes in mind.

    While these investments also form part of the fixed income universe, by ignoring other options in the space, investors hurt their prospects of clocking above-average returns on their fixed income portfolio.

    World of Fixed Income

    Contrary to popular perception, the fixed income segment is several times larger than equities.

    It is a large world, with varied choices for several investor profiles.

    Some of the popular options in the fixed income space include:

    1. Fixed Deposits (FDs)
    2. Fixed income / debt mutual fund schemes with all its variants (liquid, short-term, medium term, long-term)
    3. Post-office schemes (Public Provident Fund, National Savings Certificate)
    4. Government securities (G-Secs/Gilts)
    5. Bonds (Public Sector, Private Sector)

    Fixed income portfolio

    A fixed income portfolio of a debt mutual fund scheme is a combination of debt investments that can collectively add considerable value to the individual’s finances.

    What goes in the making of the portfolio is a combination of two factors:

    1. Your own investment objective and financial goals
    2. The fixed income environment in the country

    Your goals like building wealth for child’s education/marriage, saving for emergencies, are relatively enduring. They do not change dramatically.

    The same cannot be said about the fixed income environment in the country. Many factors like inflation, interest rates, fiscal deficit, monsoons, to list a few, have a bearing on the fixed income environment. Further certain metrics like inflation and interest rates, can be fluid, so predicting the debt environment is quite a task. This makes the job of building a fixed income portfolio challenging.

    Match your fixed income investments to your goals

    Broadly, while building a fixed income portfolio, map your goals with the tenure of investments.

    1. For long-term goals like retirement planning, child’s education and marriage go with long-term debt funds - including long-term gilt funds.
    2. For medium-term goals like saving for emergencies go with debt funds with shorter maturities of less than 3 years.
    3. For short-term goals choose overnight, liquid funds or ultra short-term debt funds.

    Effectively, your fixed income portfolio should be a combination of:

    1. Long-term bond funds and gilt funds
    2. Medium term bond funds
    3. Liquid funds and ultra-short-term funds
    4. Fixed deposits (if you are in the lower tax slabs since interest is added to income)

    The allocation to each fund depends on your goals and how much you have riding on each investment.

    If selected smartly your fixed income portfolio can add much value to your finances and go a long way in fulfilling your goals.


    An Investor Education & Awareness Initiative by HSBC Mutual Fund

    Visit https://grp.hsbc/KYC w.r.t. one-time Know Your Customer (KYC) process, complaints redressal process including SEBI SCORES (https://www.scores.gov.in). Investors should only deal with Registered Mutual Funds, to be verified on SEBI website under Intermediaries/Market Infrastructure Institutions (https://www.sebi.gov.in/intermediaries.html). Investors may refer to the section on ‘Investor Education’ on the website of HSBC Mutual Fund for the details on all ‘Investor Education and Awareness Initiatives’ undertaken by HSBC Mutual Fund.

    This document is intended only for distribution in Indian jurisdiction. Neither this document nor the units of HSBC Mutual Fund have been registered under Securities law/Regulations in any foreign jurisdiction. The distribution of this document in certain jurisdictions may be unlawful or restricted or totally prohibited and accordingly, persons who come into possession of this document are required to inform themselves about, and to observe, any such restrictions. If any person chooses to access this document from a jurisdiction other than India, then such person do so at his/her own risk and HSBC and its group companies will not be liable for any breach of local law or regulation that such person commits as a result of doing so.

    Mutual fund investments are subject to market risks, read all scheme related documents carefully.